Appearance-related Behaviors Research Articles

Processing Body Image on Social Media: Gender Differences in Adolescent Boys' and Girls' Agency and Active Coping.

Although scholars continue to debate the influence of social media on body image, increased social media use, especially engaging in appearance-related behaviors may be a potential risk factor for body dissatisfaction in adolescents. Little research has investigated how adolescents process appearance-related content and the potential strategies they use to protect body image perceptions on social media. To investigate coping strategies used by adolescents, four qualitative focus groups were conducted with 29 adolescents (23 girls) aged 15–16 years (M = 15.31, SD = 0.47) in mixed-gender Irish secondary schools. Thematic analysis revealed that adolescents employed many different behavioral strategies such as avoiding negative content and selecting positive content. Cognitive processing strategies such as critically evaluating body-related content, psychologically distancing from and positively reframing challenging content were also used, although less frequently. Boys appeared to exhibit greater positive agency over their bodies and social media use and tended to use more active coping styles than girls. Efforts to promote body image on social media such as body positive pages and exposing artificial social media content were considered limited in their effectiveness.

Body image, weight management behavior, and women’s interest in cosmetic surgery

ABSTRACT In the current study, we examined body image and weight management behavior as potential factors associated with young women’s interest in obtaining cosmetic surgery. Research focusing on objectification theory, problem behavior syndrome, and positive body image provide support for considering these factors as predictors of interest in cosmetic surgery. Female undergraduates (N = 170; M = 20.27 years old) at a college in the northeastern United States completed assessments of interest in cosmetic surgery, body image, and weight management behavior. Regression analyses indicated that women who had higher BMIs, higher body surveillance, higher body shame, and who engaged in more unhealthy weight management behaviors were more interested in obtaining cosmetic surgery. Body appreciation was significantly negatively correlated with interest in cosmetic surgery but did not significantly predict it when other factors were considered in a regression model. Results suggest that self-objectification and engaging in a constellation of appearance-related risk behaviors may place women at risk for pursuing cosmetic surgery.

Associations between body dissatisfaction, importance of appearance, and aging anxiety with depression, and appearance-related behaviors in women in mid-life

ABSTRACT The impacts of body dissatisfaction have been widely studied among adolescent girls, but much less in women in mid-life. In this study, we evaluated the associations between body dissatisfaction, psychological health and behaviors used to manage age-related changes, in an online survey of 331 women aged 45–65. Body dissatisfaction, importance of appearance and aging anxiety were associated with higher depression scores. Moreover, importance of appearance and aging anxiety were associated with the probability of using “anti-aging” behaviors. It seems that with age, for a subgroup of women, the pressure to stay young may be added to that of staying thin.

Treatment-enhanced paired action contributes substantially to change across multiple health behaviors: secondary analyses of five randomized trials.

The dominant paradigm of changing multiple health behaviors (MHBs) is based on treating, assessing, and studying each behavior separately. This study focused on individuals with co-occurring baseline health-risk behavior pairs and described whether they changed over time on both or only one of the behaviors within each pair. Data from five randomized trials of computer-tailored interventions (CTIs) that simultaneously treated MHBs were analyzed. The differences between treatment and control proportions that achieved paired action and singular action at 24 months follow-up, and the proportional contribution of paired action to overall change on each behavior, were assessed across 12 behavior pairs (including energy balance, addictive, and appearance-related behaviors). CTIs consistently produced more paired action across behavior pairs. Paired action contributed substantially more to the treatment-related outcomes than singular action. Studying concurrent changes on MHBs as demonstrated allows the effect of simultaneously treating MHBs to be assessed.

여자 청소년들의 건강유해성 지각과 스키니 진 구매행동에 대한 연구 - 외모관련행동의 영향력을 중심으로 -

This study investigates the effects of appearance-relative behaviors of adolescent female consumers on their awareness of heath harmfulness and skinny jeans purchasing behaviors and identifies the influential variables on the wearing satisfaction of skinny jeans. A survey was carried out with middle and high school female students and 386 responses were analyzed using descriptive analysis, factor analysis, a reliability test, and regression analysis. The results of this study were as follows, 1) From the results of the factor analysis on appearance-related behaviors and clothing benefits of skinny jeans for female adolescents, each of the variance assessments clearly showed factorial structures. 2) As a result of looking at the influences of appearance-relative behaviors on the clothing benefits of skinny jeans, respondents who paid more attention to their appearance tended to consider hygiene and activity comfort less important. In addition, respondents who had higher fashion concerns tended to consider aesthetic, practicability, desired trend, and activity comfort more important. 3) Respondents who had higher fashion concerns and considered activity comfort more important among skinny jeans benefits showed a higher level of satisfaction when wearing skinny jeans. However, respondents who thought aesthetic and health hygiene more important when buying skinny jeans showed a lower level of satisfaction when wearing skinny jeans. Female adolescents showed less satisfaction when wearing skinny jeans, as they perceived harmfulness about skinny jeans more.

Treated individuals who progress to action or maintenance for one behavior are more likely to make similar progress on another behavior: Coaction results of a pooled data analysis of three trials

ObjectiveThis study compared, in treatment and control groups, the phenomena of coaction, which is the probability that taking effective action on one behavior is related to taking effective action on a second behavior. MethodsPooled data from three randomized trials of Transtheoretical Model (TTM) tailored interventions (n=9461), completed in the U.S. in 1999, were analyzed to assess coaction in three behavior pairs (diet and sun protection, diet and smoking, and sun protection and smoking). Odds ratios (ORs) compared the likelihood of taking action on a second behavior compared to taking action on only one behavior. ResultsAcross behavior pairs, at 12 and 24months, the ORs for the treatment group were greater on an absolute basis than for the control group, with two being significant. The combined ORs at 12 and 24months, respectively, were 1.63 and 1.85 for treatment and 1.20 and 1.10 for control. ConclusionsThe results of this study with addictive, energy balance and appearance-related behaviors were consistent with results found in three studies applying TTM tailoring to energy balance behaviors. Across studies, there was more coaction within the treatment group. Future research should identify predictors of coaction in more multiple behavior change interventions.

Appearance concerns comparisons among persons with body dysmorphic disorder and nonclinical controls with and without aesthetic training

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) concerns may be on a continuum with normal appearance concerns, differing only quantitatively. As emerging evidence suggests that an increased aesthetic sensitivity plays a role in BDD, individuals with BDD ( n = 50) were compared with a control group of individuals with an education or employment in art and design related fields ( n = 50) and a control group of individuals without aesthetic training ( n = 50). Participants completed a demographic questionnaire and a series of measures for depression, BDD symptomatology, and body image. Most controls (with and without aesthetic training) reported appearance concerns and expressed comparable ideals to those with BDD. However, BDD participants differed by using negative, emotive, and morally based descriptions for their defect(s), spending a greater time preoccupied with their defect(s) causing increased interference with functioning, performing appearance-related behaviors more frequently, and experiencing greater distress when performing those behaviors.

Body Image: Linking Aesthetics and Social Psychology of Appearance

Body image is the mental picture we have of our bodies, has both perceptual and affective components, affects how we interact with clothes, and affects how that clothed appearance is presented publicly. The purpose of this article is to theoretically justify the inclusion of body image in textiles and clothing subject matter in institutions of higher education. Although pioneering efforts have addressed the body from aesthetic and social psychological standpoints, no theoretical justification integrates both aesthetic theory and social psychological concepts as applied to body image. We present discussions of both aesthetic and social psychological theories and concepts related to body image, make suggestions for curricular strategies at both undergraduate and graduate levels, and provide links to various stakeholders. We argue that textiles and clothing educators have a significant role to play in research, education, and outreach efforts related to body image and appearance-related behaviors and can address important quality of life issues.

Gender Differences for Appearance-Related Attitudes and Behaviors: Implications for Consumer Welfare

Drawing from a sociocultural perspective, the authors examine the influences of gender and concern and perception of appearance on a variety of dependent variables in four different studies. Although appearance concern affects the attitudes and behaviors of both men and women, gender often moderates the strength of these relationships. Several of the authors’ findings have important consumer welfare implications. Specifically, they argue that sociocultural norms pertaining to appearance encourage women to engage in potentially harmful behaviors, such as eating disorders, cosmetic surgery, and intentional sunbathing, to a larger degree than men.